Information Session for Psychology The Psychology Curriculum A. Brief Outline of Requirements

1. Information Session for Psychology • The Psychology Curriculum • A. Brief Outline of Requirements • B. Planning Ahead • 1. Choosing 2000s to Get 4000s • 2. When You Can Start Taking 4000s • Advising—Where to Go for Help • III. Considering the Next Step—What You Could/Should Be Doing Outside of Class • IV. Breakout for Individual Advising

2. Psychology major is fairly straightforward… • (see http://www.psyc.vt.edu/undergrad for more info.) • Requirements: • PSC 2004 • PSC 2094 • 12 hours of Psyc electives • 10 hours of advanced Psyc courses • senior seminar • advanced 4000 level course, with accompanying one-credit lab • one other advanced 4000 level course • CLE • 3 hours STAT (2004, 3604, or 3615) • 6 additional hours in a science (BIOL, CHEM, or PHYS) • 6 additional hours in any combination of CS, PHIL, or STAT

3. Many 2000-level courses ‘match up’ with 4000-levels; they are prerequisites… Developmental Adv. Developmental, and Lab Learning Adv. Learning, and Lab Cognitive, and Lab Nervous Systems and Beh. Physiological Psych, and Lab Social Adv. Social, and Lab etc. Some courses (e.g. Animal Behavior, Health Psych., Environmental Psych.) are prerequisites for nothing; they are purely electives.

4. Thinking ahead to your 4000-levels courses • Look at courses NOW to know what prereqs. you’ll need • Each 4000-level course is offered only about once/year • 4000-level courses restricted to Juniors (2nd sem.) and Seniors • 4000-level courses in high demand • * requests to ‘force add’ courses, at any level, are almost never granted • Summer school, if possible, makes scheduling much easier

5. Thinking ahead to your 4000-levels courses: Senior Seminars • 4364 (4354 in summer) • Special topics, 5-6 options each semester • Smaller, often discussion-based • TO SIGN UP… Seniors AUTOMATICALLY receive an email from Cindy Koziol (approx. 1-2 weeks before course request), asking for a ranking of choices. YOU NEED TO REPLY TO THIS EMAIL TO GET A SENIOR SEMINAR!

6. Advising: Multiple Tiers • Faculty Advisor listed on your student handbook (primary majors)—should be able to answer any of your questions • Cindy Koziol, 109 Williams—great for course advising; also look for emails from Cindy about internships and opportunities • Kurt Hoffman, 123 Williams—good for course advising, and career advising.

7. Job Outlook: Options Depend on Degree Level • Look at http://www.apa.org/careers and http://www.apa.org/workforce • and http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm • (from http://www.apa.org/careers/resources/guides/careers.pdf) • “In 1999, fewer than 5% of 1997 and 1998 psychology BA recipients were employed in psychology or a field related to psychology. …Two thirds were in forprofit business settings, usually the sales/service sector.” • “The 2001 Doctorate Employment Survey from APA’s Research Office found that …75% [of 1,754 respondents] were employed within 3 months of receiving the doctorate.” • The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects growth in specific areas: • health care (outpatient mental health and substance abuse clinics) • schools • social service agencies • management consulting services • “Psychologists with extensive training in quantitative research methods and computer science may have a competitive edgeover applicants without this background.”

8. Job Outlook: Start Preparing Now Pay Attention to Resources and Events on Campus, and ways to get involved in research, volunteer work http://www.career.vt.edu , and http://www.career.vt.edu/WebSites/Index.html http://www.psichi.org.vt.edu/ (Psyc Club) Look for emails from Cindy Koziol, and read www.psyc.vt.edu http://www.research.vt.edu/vted/

9. Job Outlook: Start Preparing Now Some inexpensive spring break reading? Good disc. of careers, some are unusual From APA -- a plan/guide Short and sweet